5.7.11

Is Kafka destined to be read by 'the wrong public'?

W. H. Auden

In a recent post, Times Flow Stemmed has quoted W. H. Auden's reading of Franz Kafka: 'I am inclined to believe that one should only read Kafka when one is in a eupeptic state of physical and mental health and, in consequence, tempted to dismiss any scrupulous heart-searching as a morbid fuss. When one is in low spirits, one should probably keep away from him, for, unless introspection is accompanied, as it always was in Kafka, by an equal passion for the good life, it all too easily degenerates into a spineless narcissistic fascination with one’s own sin and weakness.' [Read More]